Oh don't you know? The mafia formed and mobilised because of persecution from the cops who were all Irish and had it out for them - and none of the other ethnic groups - for some reason.

This is why they went into loansharking, racketeering and murder.

Because Irish cops used to profile law abiding Italians and stop them for having broken taillights. But it ain't broken? *smash*

That's why Johnny went into the mafia.

If you believe pathological sociopath imbeciles like Phil Leonetti, that is.

There are - and always have been - people of all creeds in the police. Polish, Germans and Italians too.

Joey Testa's brother was in the police. Henry Borelli had ambitions to be a police officer. The two cops Casso had on his payroll were *drumroll* Italian American!

But if you are lazy enough and so inclined - as some of these mobsters are - you can find a way to justify anything and make some excuse for the mafia code based on some kind of ill-perceived and half-brained battle on ethnic lines.